Irvine Valley's men's soccer team stood out on the field during the 2021-22 season, but did so off of it and in the classroom even more.
Irvine Valley College administrators and staff learned earlier this week that the Lasers earned a special award from the state for academic excellence.
During difficult times with the COVID Pandemic, faced with online classes and not having a home field at their disposal, Irvine Valley players still shined.
IVC, under the direction of legendary coach Martin McGrogan in his last season at the college, was honored with a state scholar-team of the year in men's soccer by the California Community College Athletic Association.
"On behalf of the students who actually earned it and the staff that shepherded them, thank you," Irvine Valley Dean and Athletic Director Keith Shackleford said. "The program had is finest-ever year acacemically - the numbers that the student-athletes posted were extraordinary academically and athletically."
The squad will officially be honored at the end of March at the CCCAA state awards luncheon in March in Sacramento.
"This team was committed to academic success and a pleasure to work with," IVC athletic counselor Joe Rubino said.
On the field, Irvine Valley played one of the toughest schedules in the state (with all home games at the OC Great Park), finished tied for third in one of the top conferences and reached the California Community College Athletic Association So. Cal. Regional Playoffs.
The team's season came to a close in the first round of the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional Playoffs at Santa Ana.
Irvine Valley freshman forward Ivan Lopez was named co-MVP after an impressive season.
Sophomore defender and captain Garrett Hayes, sophomore midfielder and captain Victor Onofre and freshman midfielder Marco Ronchini were picked as first team all-OEC.
Irvine Valley also had freshman defender Domenyk Jara and freshman defender Steven Osuna named second team all-conference.
Lopez, a freshman forward from Godinez High ended the year with eight goals and seven assists for 23 points. He was especially good on free kicks for the Lasers. Lopez ranked second in the conference in goals, tied for second in assists and second in points on the year.
Hayes, a leader for the Lasers, wrapped up his IVC career with another solid season as the leader of the defense and moved on to play at NCAA Division II Cal State Monterey Bay. Jara also signed with Division II Concordia in Irvine.
"With the team's athletic leaders achieving 3.50 or better, these student-athletes represent a holistel level of achievement," Shacckleford said. "While taking an average of more than 16 units during that fall term in the season of sport, 23 players hit a 3.00 GPA or above. The group was geared for academic success."
Players on the 2021-22 scholar athlete team included:
Izzy Abdelkader, Sam Al Qarghuli, Edgar Cardoso, Emiliano Chaves, Cole Costa, Matthew Cox, Andrew Darke, Lorenzo DiCioccio, Jared Dissman, Kyler Doverspike, Garrett Hayes, Joe Heaney, Isaac Hernandez, Thomas Hutchinson, Domenyk Jara, Amar Karabeg, Kade Knutson, Luco Krasnow, Diego Llergo, Ivan Lopez, Diego Navarro, Victor Onofre, Christopher Osuna, Steven Osuna, Dave Otoya, Marco Ronchini, Sean Salah, Armando Sanchez, Max Stec, Luke Steinbock, Julian Svoboda, Adem Toskic.
